Machine for washing milk bottle cases



y 1940- 1. H. KENDALL.

MACHINE FOR WASI'IING MILK BOTTLE CASES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filodoct. 1, 1937 6, 1940. H. KE-NDALL- 2, 07,697

MACHINE FOR WASHING MILK BOTTLE CASES Filed Oct. 1, 1937 s Shaets-Sheet 2 l W ATTORNEYS My 16.1940. LHENDALL 2 201,691

ncnmz FOR wAsaINe um: BOTTLE CASES Filed Oct. 1, 1937 s sneaks-sheet :5

g 'ZM/ Q INVENTOR.

BY Wan/QM i/ ATTORNEYS Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED, STATES- MACHINE FOR WASHING DIILK BOTTLE CASES Ira H. Kendall, Potsdam, N. Y., assignor to Genevieve A. Kendall, Potsdam, N. Y.

Application October 1, 1937, Serial No. 166,718

8Clalms.

My invention relates to a new and improved machine for washing milk-bottle cases and other receptacles. I

While the invention relates particularly to the washing of the well-known receptacles or cases which are used for holding milk bottles and the like, the invention applies generally to the washing of objects of all kinds.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide washing mechanism having an inlet feeding device for feeding the objects to said washing mechanism, and having an outlet feeding device for feeding the washed objects away from said washing mechanism, whereby the cases to be washed can be placed closely upon the inlet feeding device, and said cases will be automatically spaced from each other while they are conveyed through the washing mechanism or the casing thereof, and said cases will be closely spaced upon the outlet or takeaway feeding device. This makes it possible to locate the cases very close to each other on the inlet feeding device, and to space said cases automatically from each other while they are being taken by a suitable con- 5 veyor through the washing device. The cases are then automatically placed close to each other upon the take-away feeding device.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a mixture of sand and water can be used for washing the cases, without causing the same to accumulate in the device, above the receptacle for said sand and water.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby the operation of the device will be stopped automatically, if the washed objects or the like are not moved away from the washing mechanism with suflicient rapidity, or if the outlet side of the machine becomes blocked for any reason.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. l is 'adiagrammatic side elevation of the improved device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation, partially in section, showing the chain conveyor which is used in the washing device. F lFigi. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-0 of 5 Fig. 1. Fig. 8 also diagrammatically illustrates certain mechanism of the controlling circuit.

The cases in which milk bottles are handled are of general rectangular shape. Said cases have widely separated bars at their bottom ends. 10

Heretofore a practical machine has not been devised for washing said cases automatically.

According to the invention, I provide washing mechanism which is located in a housing I. Said washing device is provided with an inlet conveyor 15 2 and an outlet or take-away conveyor 3. A supplemental inlet conveyor 2a is provided for supplying the cases to the inlet conveyor 2, and a supplemental take-away conveyor 3a is provided for taking the cases from the outlet conveyor 3. m

The washing device is provided with conveying means I 1.

While I can use any suitable type of feeding mechanism or conveyor or conveyors, which may be operated either continuously or intermittently, 25 I prefer to use chain conveying means and each of the conveyors above mentioned may consist of one or more. endless chains for moving the cases.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conveyor 2a comprises one or more endless chains which are ar- 0 ranged parallel to each other and which are mounted upon sprockets 5. Only one of these sprockets 5 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood that this endless chain is of the usual type. 35

Fig. 2 shows the motor M which drives the conveying means. As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft of the motor M is connected by means of a chain 6, to a sprocket l, which is mounted upon a shaft 8. The shaft 8 is therefore driven more slowly than the shaft of the motor M and this reduction in speed may be in any desired ratio. The shaft 8 is provided with a sprocket 9, which meshes with the chain 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the chain 3 meshes with the sprocket i0. said 5 chain 3 being the endless type. It is to be understood that instead of having a single chain 3,

I can utilize two or more of said chains, which would be identical with said chain 3. Since a chain. conveyor which has two or more endless 5 chains is well known, this part of the disclosure does not require any further description.

The sprocket I0 is upon the shaft II and said shaft H is provided with a sprocket II. The

sprocket i2 is connected by a chain to a smaller as sprocket II, which is mounted upon the shaft I8. Therefore the angular speed of the shaft l5 ex ceeds the angular speed of the shaft l l. particular embodiment the pitch diameter of the sprocket I4 is one-half the pitch diameter of the sprocket l2, so that the shaft H turns one revolution for every two revolutions of the shaft i5. The shaft I5 is provided with a pair of sprockets l6, and the chain conveyors I I mesh with the sprockets l6 and with companion sprockets l8 which are located upon the shaft I8. The sprockets l8 are not keyed to the shaft is, so that the shaft I9 can turn freely relative to the sprockets 18. However, the sprockets l6 are keyed to the shaft l5 and the sprockets 9 and iii are respectively keyed to the shafts 8 and II.

The shaft II is provided with a sprocket 20 which is keyed thereto, and said sprocket 20 is connected by a chain 2| to a sprocket 22 which is keyed to the shaft IS. A- sprocket 23 is keyed to the shaft l9 and said sprocket 23 is connected by means of endless chain 2 to the sprocket 25 which is mounted upon the shaft 26.

The supplemental conveyors 2a and 3a are moved by independent means, which are not shown in the drawings.

The operator can locate the cases 0 upon the conveyor 2a, with said cases very close to each other and substantially abutting each other. The distance between the sprockets 5 and 25 is sufliciently small, to iable the cases C to be transferred from the conveyor 2a to the conveyor 2. Additional supporting means are provided for the cases C, in combination with the conveyor 2, as will be later described. The cases C maintain their original close spacing upon the conveyor 2. However, the chain conveyors I1 have a. greater linear speed than the chain conveyor 2. This is because the shaft l5 turns two revolutions for each single revolution of the shaft I I. Since the sprockets 20 and 22 are equal, and the sprockets 23 and 25 are also equal, the linear speed of the conveyor 2 is governed by the speed of rotation of the shaft ll. However, the sprockets l8 and the sprockets l8 move at a speed which is determined by the speed of revolution of the shaft l5, which turns two revolutions for each single revolution of the shaft I l.

Therefore, the cases will be automatically spaced from each other, as they are moved by conveyors l'l within and through the casing I, so as to permit proper washing of said cases within the casing I.

The linear speed of movement of the conveyor 3 is exactly the same as the linear. speed of move ment of the conveyor 2. Therefore the washed cases will be automatically deposited upon the conveyor 3, in the same close relationship as upon conveyors 2a and 2. The cases will continue to have the same close relationship upon the conveyor 3a. The conveyor preferably has the same linear speed as the conveyor 3, and the conveyor 2a has the same linear speed as the conveyor 2, so that the conveyors 2a and 2 and 3 and 3a are moved at the same linear speed.

However, the linear speed of conveyors 3a and 2a may be varied without departing from the invention.

Asshown in Fig. 3, the casing I is provided with a closed top, which may have a removable cover. As shown in Fig. 3, the bottom of the casing is provided with a trough 35, which can hold a suitable supply of washing fluid, or a mixture of water and sand and the like.

The inlet 86 of the pump P is connected to the In this bottom of the trough 35. This pump P is driven by the motor Ma. Said pump is provided with an outlet 81, which is connected to a series of branch pipes 21, 28, 28, ",Jl and 22.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 4, the pipe 21 is connected to a branch pipe 21a having a nozzle 21b whereby the washing liquid is discharged in order to scrub it thoroughly. The pipe II is connected to a pipe 31a, which has a nozzle Slb, through which the washing liquid, or the mixture of sand and water, is projected upon one longitudinal wall of the case C. The pipe 28 is connected to a nozzle 28a, whereby the cleansing liquid is projected upon the other longitudinal wall of the case C.

The pipe 32 is connected to a nozzle 82a, which discharges the cleansing liquid into the interior of the case R, and through the spaces between the widely spaced bars which are provided at the bottom of said case. Said cases are fed through the machine, in inverted position, if they have imperforate bottoms. The cases may be fed through the machine, with their supporting bars located directly adjacent conveyors l1, if said bars are spaced from each other. The pipe 30 is connected to the lateral pipe 8041, which is connected to the nozzle 30b. This discharges liquid downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 5. The

liquid which is discharged from nozzles 32a and 30b scrubs the inner surfaces of the cases, and the spaced bars of said cases.

During a period of the movement of each case C during the washing'operation, the inner surface of the rear wall of each said case is washed by nozzle 29b, and the inner surface of the front wall of each said case is washed by nozzle 21b. That is, when the case is close to nozzle 21b, said nozzle discharges liquid over the top of the case against the inner surface of its front wall. When the case is close to nomle 28b. this discharges liquid over the top of the case against the inner surface of the rear wall.

After the washing operation has been completed, the cases C are given a final rinsing by means of liquid delivered from perforated pipes 40 and 4|, which are connected to any suitable supply of clean water, such as the city mains or the like. This clean water washes the inner and connected to said housing. Supplemental bars 50a and 5m are connected to said bars 58 and SI by means of spaced bolts or rivets 52. The links L of the upper runs of the chain conveyors I! ride upon the bars 50a and 5la. Since the bars 50, 50a, 5Ia, and 52- are laterally spaced from each other and since these bars have smooth 7:;

.planar top faces, the sand cannot collect upon said bars. to the housing I, for supporting the cases external to the housing. The chain conveyors support the cases with sufllcient friction to push the cases along the angle irons.

It often happens that due to operating conditions, the cases crowd up on the outlet or takeaway conveyor 3 or upon supplemental outlet conveyor 30. In operating one of these devices in a plant, the bottles are removed from the cases, and the bottles are then sent to a bottle washer. The washed cases must be re-loaded with the bottles. Very often the cases are not taken off the outlet or take-away conveyor system with sufficient rapidity. If the operation of the device were continued while the outlet conveyor was stationary, or while cases accumulated thereon, the automatic spacing action in the washer could not be secured. These cases would be crowded together in the washer and they would not be washed efficiently. Therefore, it is desirable to provide additional control means, so as to stop the feeding of cases into the housing I, if the cases are not taken oil the outlet conveyor with sufficient rapidity to maintain the proper spacing within the housing I.

As shown in Fig. 8, a friction wheel or friction gear contacts with one of the vertical longitudinal walls of each of the cases C, directly above the shaft of the motor M. This friction wheel 60 could be located in any suitable position, but it is preferred to locate it external to the housing and to contact it with the case, before the case leaves the conveyor 3.

The friction gear 60 contacts with and it operates a much smaller friction gear 8|, so that the gear 6| is turned at suitable high speed. The shaft 61a of the gear GI is provided with an arm 82, which is turned at suitable high speed. A mercury switch 63 is provided at the end of the arm 82.

The showing of the switch 63 and-of the circuit of the motor M, in Fig. 8, is wholly diagrammatic, since devices of this type are well known. As shown in Fig. 8, the arm 62 is keyed to the shaft 61a. Slip-rings a and 660 are keyed to the shaft Ola. Said slip-rings are insulated from the shaft 61a and from each other. Insulated wires 0! and 66 are respectively connected to the rings 85a and 86a and to the terminals of the mercury switch 68. While said wires 65 and 66 are shown as being external to the shaft 61a in Fig. 8, said wires 65 and 66 could extend through a suitable axial bore in the shaft 81a, in the well known manner. The ends of said wires 65 and 68 could extend above the top of the shaft 61a, and the upper ends of said wires 65 and 68 could be con-'- nected to the terminals of the mercury switch 63. Since this is well known practice, detail drawings are unnecessary.

When the switch 63 is turned at or above a predetermined minimum speed, the mercury 64 is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, so as a to connect the wires 65 and 66 through said mercury switch 83. Brushes Ba contact with the rings 85a and 88a. Current is supplied to the motor M throughthe line wires 68 and 89. A manually operable switch 61 is connected to the two sides of the power circuit by means of wires 68a and 89m The switch 81 is a starting switch, and it may be provided with the usual well known means, such as a rheostat or other control means, so that the motor M can be driven at any desired speed by operating said switch Bl. The motor M Angle irons ll are provided external.

can be operated by means of .the switch I at a p ed which is lower than the speed which is required to render the mercury switch 63 effective.

If the device is to be started when there are no cases C within the housing I or on the outlet conveyor 3, the circuit of the motor M can be closed temporarily by means of the switch 61 until the cases C are located in the housing I in properly spaced relation, and said cases C are in proper position for operating the mercury switch 63. As soon as the cases C are in proper position to cause the operation of the mercury switch 83,

the switch 61 can be opened. The circuit of the motor M then remains closed through the mercury switch 63 until the speed of movement of the cases C falls below the minimum predetermined speed.

Therefore, if the cases do not move away from the housing I with sufficient speed, for any reason, the circuit of the motor M is broken and the operation of the device is stopped, so that more cases cannot be fed into the housing I and thus diminish the proper spacing between thecases C in said housing I. Under certain conditions the conveyors 3 and 3a may continue to move while the cases are jammed upon said conveyors, so that the conveyors slip relative to the cases. However, since the mercury switch 63 is controlled by the movementof the cases C, the circuit of the motor M will be opened under such conditions.

Motor Ma can have a similar control, or it may have a common circuit with motor M, so that the circuit of motor Ma is broken when the circuit of motor M is broken.

The conveyors 3a and 2a can also be actuated through the motor M, or through another motor or motors having a common circuit with motor M. Conveyors 3a and 241 can be operated by means wholly independent of motor M.

When it is desired to resume the operation of the device, the switch 61 is closed until the cases are in position to operate the mercury switch at proper high speed, and one of said cases thus operates said switch to close the circuit of motor M. The switch 61 can be biased by a spring or the like, so that it is normally in the circuitopening position.

Therefore, the device cannot operate automatically and continuously, unless there are cases external to the housing I and unless these cases are being moved relative to the housing at or above a suitable minimum predetermined speed.

Since the automatic switch 63 is operated by the movement of the cases only at or above a predetermined speed, it is possible to operate said conveyors 2a and 3a in accordance with prevailing conditions in the plant, and independently of conveyor 3. Likewise the conveyors may be operated at any speed without operating switch 63, if the cases are not in proper position to operate said switch.

The cases may abut each other on the con-' veyors, save in the housing. ,A long line of cases therefore abut each other adjacent friction gear 60, so that said gear is driven at uniform high speed, since the cases have substantial weight, and they can exert the necessary frictional force. The gear 80 may have the usual elastic material at its periphery in order to secure a reliable friction drive. The cases are guided in their longitudinal. movement adjacent gear 60 by means of the longitudinal angle irons. These angles irons can have vertical flanges of any desired height,

to prevent the cases from being laterally tilted when they operate gear 88.

The mercury switch and the drive therefor is one example of numerous devices which can accomplish the same function, and which are included in the scope of the invention.

Anti-friction rollers or the like can be used in association with angle irons 53 and bars B, and wherever it is desired to minimize friction.

In the embodiment shown, members i! constitute first means operative to move the cases relative tonozzle means 2'"), 29b, etc.

Member 2 constitutes second means operative to deliver cases directly to first means i'l.

Member 3 constitutes third means operative to take washed cases directly from first means i'i.

These means are substantially aligned at theiradjacent ends, and said adjacent ends are close enough to take an object from one said means to the adjacent means.

I claim:

1. In combination, washing nozzle means for washing cases or the like, a first conveyor located and operative to move the cases relative to said nozzle means so that the liquid which is delivered by said nozzle means contacts with said cases, a second conveyor located and operative to deliver the cases to the first conveyor, a third conveyor located and operative to take away washed cases from the first conveyor, said conveyors having their adjacent ends aligned and'suificiently close to each other so as to transfer the goods from one conveyor to the other, mechanism for actuating said conveyors, said mechanism being operative to actuate the first conveyor more rapidly than the second conveyor and to drive the third conveyor more slowly than the first conveyor, and at least as rapidly as the second conveyor.

2. In washing mechanism, washing means adapted to deliver washing fluid, feeding mechanism adapted to move objects relative to said washing means so that said washing fluid strikes said objects, operating mechanism constructed to actuate said feeding mechanism, a speed-responsive and movable control device for said operating mechanism, said control device being located and constructed to be operated by said objects when they are moved relative to the washing means by said feeding mechanism, said control device being constructed to stop said operating mechanism when the speed of movement of said control device falls below a predetermined limit.

3. In washing mechanism, washing means adapted to deliver washing fluid,- feeding mechanism adapted to move objects relative to said washing means so that said washing fluid strikes said objects, operating mechanism constructed to actuate said feeding mechanism, a speed-responsive and movable control device for said operating mechanism, said control device being located and constructed to be operated by said objects when they are moved relative to the washing means by said feeding mechanism, said control device being constructed to stop said operating mechanism when the speed of movement of anism adapted to move objects relative to said washing means so that said washing fiuid strikes said objects, an electric motor adapted and operable to actuate said feeding mechanism, a switch locatedin the circuit of said electric motor,said switch being biased to normally open the circuit of said electric motor, a speed-responsive movable device located and constructed to be operated by the movement of saidobjects, said speed-responsive device being constructed to actuate said switch so as to close the circuit when ltlhglzpeed of said objects is above a predetermined 5. In washing mechanism, washing means adapted to deliver washing fluid, feeding mechanism adapted to-move objects relative to said washing means so that said washing fluid strikes said objects, an electric motor adapted and oprable to actuate said feeding mechanism, a switch located in the circuit of said electric motor, said switch beingbiased to normally open the circuit of said electric motor, a speed-responsive movable device located and constructed to be operated by the movement of said objects, said speed-responsive device being constructed to actuate said switch so as to close the circuit when the speed of said objects is above a predetermined limit, said switch being of the centrifugal type and being connected to said device to be operated thereby. v v 6. In combination, washing nomle means for washing cases or the like, a first conveyor located and adapted to move the cases relative to said nozzle means so that the liquid which is delivered by'said nozzle means contacts with said cases, a second conveyor located and adapted to deliver the cases to the first conveyor, a third conveyor located and adapted to take away washed cases from the first conveyor, mechanism adapted to actuate said conveyors, said mechanism being adapted to actuate the first conveyor more rapidly than the second conveyor and the third conveyor, said actuating mechanism including an electric motor, a switch which normally keeps the circuit of said motor open, switch-operating mechanism adapted to actuate said switch to close said circuit, said switch-operating mechanism being located adjacent the third conveyor and being adapted to be operated by the movement of cases located on said third conveyor.

"I. In combination, washing means for washing cases or the like, a first conveyor adapted to move the cases relative to said washing means so that the said cases receive washing liquid from said washing means, a second conveyor located and adapted to deliver cases to the first conveyor, a

0nd conveyor and of the third conveyor being directly connected so as to move the second conveyor and the third conveyor at the same linear speed, the shaft of one rotatable member of the first conveyor being keyed to the respective rotatable member and being directly connected to a shaft of a rotatable memberyof the third conveyor by step-up means which are adapted-to drive the first conveyor at a greater linear speed than the second conveyor or the third conveyor, one of the shafts of the second conveyor having a rotatable member of the first conveyor mounted freely thereon.

8. In combination, washing means for washing cases or the like, said washing means including nozzle means, said washing means also ineluding first movable feeding means located in 0nd movable feeding means being sufllciently close to said first movable feeding means to actuate and to transfer the cases directly from said second movable feeding means to said first movable feeding means while said second movable feeding means contact with the case which is being transferred, and second actuating mechanism adapted to operate the second movable feeding means more slowly than the first movable feeding means.

IRA H. KENDALL. 

